If you're considering trading in your stick drifted console controller at Gamestop, because you've seen the ads all over the place about how you can get the same trade-in value as a non-stick drifted controller, you really need to understand what you're getting.
I'm not saying don't do it. You're still getting a deal, but the ads are extremely misleading. You do not get the trade-in value of a new controller. That's not what it is.
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What you get is the standard trade-in value you would if you were trading in a defective controller. Stick drift is not a defect. It's the result of you mashing on the stick, so if you trade that in, the value is going to be considerably less than for a defective controller.
Also, the color of your controller factors in there. My white one got me ~$12, the purple got me ~$27, and I bought two new identical controllers with a $40 discount. Still worth it, but NOT what the ad suggests.
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The thing I find really frustrating is that it would be relatively trivial for Sony, Microsoft, what-have-you to build in a controller calibration function, so the OS would compensate for stick drift, making it a non-issue as long as the stick is still picking up the motion. Many new PS5 games are doing exactly that on their own.
That would seriously dampen the controller market though, cutting into a revenue stream. So I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon.
@deadtom Microsoft has controller calibration on the XBox, and it works pretty well for what it does. I do wish they'd improve it to allow counteraction of drift, or better yet, switch to Hall-Effect sticks which are essentially immune to it.
Barring THAT, I wish they'd make it easier for third-party controller manufacturers to sell wireless Xbox controllers without using USB workarounds. There are some truly excellent third-party controllers with Hall-Effect sticks ...
@deadtom not sure what kind of controllers you’re talking about, though I will say stick replacements in a few different controllers is also not very difficult. Switch JoyCons in particular are worth the time.
